Wheeled vehicle for children



Nov. 11, 1952 R. 5. JAMES ETAL' WHEELED VEHICLE FOR CHILDREN 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1950 INVENTOR RAYMOND E. JA MES EDGAR L. PIERCE I ATToRNEf p Nov. 11, 1952 R. E- JAMES ET AL WHEELED VEHICLE FOR CHILDREN Filed Sept. 15, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 .a/ as g as 4 2 i 5' 35H 93 a I6 411- do W 44 I 45- Q I INVENTOR RA YMOND E. JAM EDGAR L. PIERCE ATTOR Y Patented Nov. 11, 1952 .WHEELEDVEHICLE FOR'CHiLDREN RaymondrE. James, East Riverdale, Md.,tand Edgar .L. Pierce, Falls :Church, Va.

ripplicationseptember 15,1950, SerialN0.185;'092

3 Claims; :1 The presentjinvention relates *to a vehicle and has "for one Of its "objects "to produce a vehicle in the formpf an animal for-the use'and amusement ofc'liildren.

*Anotherobject-of the present invention is'the v provision of 'a"'ve'hic"le simulating "an animal, the

V 'isthe provision of 'a "brake meansforcontrolling the speed, --'or *for stopping "the vehicle.

-A still further object 'of the presentinvention isthe provision-of a-chain or belt'drive.

A still *further objectof the; present invention isth'e provision of :free wheeling of the vehicle.

-A'still further object of the present invention is the provision "of means for holding the ;propelling means in retracted position.

-A stillfurther object of the present invention is the provision of means for steering the vehicle associated with the -lorake"means.

"These ando'ther-objects and advantages of the present invention will "be apparent during the 'courseef the following description in which the like =numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure l isa side-elevational view of therehiele.

Figure 2 is a perspective view-of the frameof the :vehicle and illustrating the propelling and :brake vmechanism.

Figure 3 is :a tra'n verse section taken on line .3-3 10f Figure 1 looking in the direction "of the arrows.

' Referring .to the drawings, the numeral i I represents the vehicle and fit eomprises a frame of tubular material having side rails n with vertical supports l2 and a low-er forward "transverse "reinforcing bar 'The'liorward ends 'M of the side :-rails H are secured #to a vertical tubular housing Hi, the zrear ends to of the side rails l l are secured to a U-shapedrod l 'l, the portions l8 of the rods being formed intoflat'str'ips, the

:s'iderrails :l l therelis fixedly secured a lower rear shaft 22 upon which is mounted for pivotal movement collars '23that are held in spaced' rlation by "a sleeve 24. The rod portions 25 =-o'f the U- shaped-memb'er are each provided with ears 26 that support the "ends of shaft 2-1, the shaft adapted for rotative movement. Upon the shaft 21 there is mounted a sleeve 28 that' is secured to the shaft by pin 29. -Also mounted "on the upper rearshaft 21adjacent-eachend are ratchet wheels -38 that areseoured toth'e shaft by'pins 3!, and sprocket'wheel-s 32 that are 'frely movable on "the shaft -21. 'The spr'oket wheels 32 each carry a spring 33 and a dog 34, the dog adapted :f or engagement with the-"rat ihet -vth'eel to impart movement to same, the spring---exert-- ing *a {pressure "on the *dog to keep the dog in engagemeritvviththe ratchet wheel. *In Fi gure' 3 two forms of drive Wheels are shown mounted on-shaft 21, and if it is desired toprov'i'de --a '-belt drive for the "device, a'drive 'wheel --35 is mounted on the sleeve 28 and keyed thereto '-by em '36,

"the peripheral edge of the wheel 35 being provided with 'a groove 31. *Ifitis desiredto pro- ".videa chain'drive for the device 'a sprocketwheel .38 is mounted on "the sleeve 28 and secured thereto by 'a pin 39.

The'porti'ons it of the Ll-shaped ro'd l-l'adjacent the ends are provided with "bores "HO tthat receive an axle 41, "and mounted "upon the axle there maybe a grooved wheel 42, or as shown'in Figurez a 'sprocketwheel' lli'may be 'se'curedf'to theshaft. "The ends of the axle "41 rare-provided with a crank element 4 the pin p'ortionfi lt adapted for engagement with :anaperture in the hind legs of "a horse or other animal "as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Also mounted on the axle and keyed thereto is arubb'en tired wheel 46. If a belt drive is to be used,:a belt .41! is trained around and "engages the groove 31 in wheel "35, and around the grooved wheel"42, 'or'if a chain drive is to be used a "link -chain 48 :is trained around "the sprocket wheel 38 and the sprocket wheel 63. Q

Secured to the ic'ollars 23 is "a shaft 59, "the shaft having a 'bent portion 55 I] a transverse bent p'ortiontl that forms'an'ofiset, and a depending 'porti'o'nf52. secured to the "end of the depending "portion 152 is an L-s'h'aped element 53 'thatt'forms a stirrup' 'to which is secured *atguard 54. "The shaft 49 'isprovided with "'a'hook "55 "that'reeeive's pneendtifi of spring 5*lytheopposite end 58of the spring beingsecured to theendfifl of link chain 69. The chain is trained around the sprocket wheels 32 and the rollers Tl, fthe'en'd 3 ried by the bent portion 50 of shaft 43. For clarity the link chain 60 is not shown trained around the sprocket wheels 32 in Figure 2. The spring 51 serves as a return means for the shafts and the other portions of the shafts to normal position as shown in Figure 2.

Within the tubular housing I5 is a rod 63 having secured to its bottom end a plate 64. The plate carries fork 65, the ends of the fork being provided with an aperture. Between the fork is a shaft 68, and mounted on the shaft for pivotal movement is a sleeve 86' to which is secured a guard-brake 61. A tubular housing 68 is carried by the plate 68, and secured to the top end of the housing is an open framework 69 having a closed portion III that serves as a housing. Mounted upon the upper end of the rod 63 is a sleeve 'II having a slotted flange I2. The slotted flange 12 receives one end 13 of rod I4 that is' secured in the slot by bolts 15. The rod 14 is bent to form the outline of a head, and in the present showing the head is a horse, the end I6 of the rod I4 being secured to the open framework 69. Mounted within the housing 18 is a rack bar 11 having its lower end 18 threaded. Within the tubular housing 38 is a cable I9, one end of the cable having a threaded coupling 88 that engages the threaded end I8, the opposite end of the cable I9 being secured to the guardbrake, and interposed between the guard-brake and the bottom end of the tubular housing 68 is a spring 8| that serves as a means for keeping the guard-brake normally out of engagement with the rubber tired wheel 8!. The rubber tired Wheel 8| is supported between the fork by axle 82, portions ofthe axle engaging the apertures in the fork, and secured to the ends of the axle are crank elements 83, the pin portion 88 adapted for engagement with an aperture in the lower portion of the front legs of a horse or other animal as shown in Figure 1.

Transversely mounted in the closed portion I8 is a shaft 85 that carries a cog wheelBB, and extending from each side of the closed portion 18 are tubular arms 81 that house the shaft 85. The ends of the shaft are provided with handles 88 that operate the cog wheel 86, that in turn operates th rack-bar, cable and guardbrake. In the nose of the rod I4 there is transversely mounted a rod 89, and secured to the ends of the rod is one end of a .metalribbon 90, the opposite ends of the ribbon being secured to the tubular arms 81, the metal ribbon simulating reins of a harness.

" The body 85 of the horse or other animal is made in two sections that may be of wood or metal, and these sections may be secured to the frame I I by any suitable means such as through bolts 96. The head 91 is made in two sections that are secured to the rod I4 by any suitable means such as through bolts 98. The inner faces of the body sections 95 and the head sections 91 if desired may be channeled out for engagement with the side rails II and the rod I4. To the hind quarter of the body sections 35 there is pivotally mounted the upper hind leg members 99, and to these members there is pivotally connected the upper end of the lower hind leg members I08. The lower hind leg members are provided with a bore that receives the pin portion 45 of the crank elements 44. To the body portion IIJI of the head portion there is pivotally mounted the upper end of members I83, and to the lower end of members Hi3 there ispivotally connected the lower legmembers I84.

4 The lower leg members I04 are provided with apertures or bores that receive the pin portions 84 of the crank elements 83. A saddle I is provided, the horn I08 0f the saddle being provided with a bore that engages the end portion I01 of the rod 63.

In operating the vehicle, a child positions itself on the saddle I05, placing its feet in the stirrups 53. By pushing down, first on one stirrup and then on the other, movement is imparted to the rubber tired wheel 46 in the following manner. As one of the stirrups 53 is pushed down, the pivotally mounted rod 39 moves down pulling the chain 68 forward, the forward movement of the chain rotating-sprocket wheel 32, movement of sprocket wheel 32 causing the dog 34 to engage one of the teeth in ratchet wheel 38, the dog 34 being held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 38 by spring 33. Movement is imparted to either a grooved Wheel 35 or a sprocket wheel 38 which imparts movement to a belt 41 or chain 48 trained around pulley 42 or sprocket wheel 43 that is secured to rubber tired wheel 46. When the full downward stroke on one stirrup has been reached and downward movement is started on the other stirrup, as downward pressure is released on the first stirrup, this stirrup is pulled upwardly to its original position by spring 51. During movement of either the pulley wheel 42 or the cogwheel 43, movement is imparted to the axle M the crank pin 48 operating the hind leg portions 99 and I08, thus simulating the natural move ment of a horse or other animal. If it is desired to coast along without operating the stirrups, the grooved wheel 35 or sprocket wheel 38, ratchet wheel 30 and shaft 2'! will rotate, while sprocket wheels 32 stay stationary. During movement of the vehicle the front leg portions I83 and I04 will move, simulating the natural movement of a horse or other animal through rotation of the rubber tired wheel BI and the crank pins 84. To control the speed of the vehicle or to stop the Vehicle, downward pressure on the handles 88 impart movement to the shaft 85 that moves the cog-wheel 88 in a counter-clockwise direction that moves the rackbar Ti, cable I9 and the guard-brake 61 upwardly, the rear end of the guard-brake engaging the rubber tired wheel 8|. When the handles 88 are released or pulled upwardly, the spring 8| moves the rear end of the guard-brake upwardly and pulls the cable I9 and the rock bar I! downwardly.

From the above description it can be seen that we have provided a vehicle that may simulate an animal and one that may be driven either by a belt or link chain, that means are provided for driving the vehicle, or for coasting, with means for braking the speed of the vehicle or for stopping it. Also positive drive means are provided insurin constant movement of the vehicle without lost motion.

Having described our invention, we do not wish to be limited to the exact details, as changes may be made without departing from the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is:

1. A wheeled vehicle comprisin a frame, a head portion and a forked portion mounted to said frame for pivotal movement, wheels carried by said frame and forked portion, an upper rear, a lower rear and a forward transverse shaft carried by said frame, a cog-wheel carried by the wheel journaled on said lower shaft in said frame, sprocket wheels, a ratchet wheel and a cog-wheel carried by said upper rear shaft, said sprocket wheels freely movable on said shaft, a chain trained around the cog-wheel carried by said upper rear shaft and the cog-wheel carried by the wheel journaled on said lower rear shaft in said frame, drive means pivotally mounted on said forward transverse shaft mounted in said frame, said drive means having an L-shaped end, drive chains trained around the sprocket wheels, a dog carried by said sprocket wheels engageable with said ratchet wheel, one end of each of said drive chains secured to said drive means pivotally mounted on said forward transverse shaft, resilient means in said frame and having one end secured to said drive means pivotally mounted on said forward transverse shaft, the opposite end of said resilient means secured to said drive chains, and means in said head and forked portion for controlling the speed of said Wheeled vehicle.

2. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame, a head portion and a forked portion mounted to said frame for pivotal movement, wheels carried by said frame and forked portion, upper forward, upper rear, lower rear and lower forward transverse shafts carried by said frame, a pulley wheel carried by the wheel journaled on the lower rear shaft in said frame, sprocket wheels, a ratchet Wheel and a pulley wheel carried by said upper rear transverse shaft, said sprocket wheels movable on said shaft, a belt trained around the pulley wheel carried by said upper rear shaft and the pulley wheel carried by the wheel journaled on said lower rear shaft in said frame, rollers carried by said upper forward transverse shaft in said frame, drive means pivotally mounted on said lower forward transverse shaft mounted in said frame, said drive means having an L-shaped end, drive chains trained around the sprocket wheels, a dog carried by said sprocket wheels engageable with said ratchet wheel, one end of each of said drive chains secured to said drive means pivotally mounted on said lower forward shaft, resilient means in said frame and having one end secured to said drive means pivotally mounted on said lower forward transverse shaft, the opposite end of said resilient means secured to said drive chain, and means in said head and forked portion for controlling the speed of said wheeled vehicle. 6

3. A device of the character described compris ing a frame, a head and forked portion pivotally connected to said frame, wheels carried by said frame and forked portion, upper forward, lower forward, upper rear and lower rear transverse shafts carried by said frame, a cog-wheel connected to the wheel journaled on the lower rear shaft in said frame, sprocket wheels, ratchet wheels, and a cog-wheel carried by said upper rear shaft, said sprocket wheels freely movable on said shaft, a sprocket chain trained around said cog-wheel carried by said upper rear transverse shaft and the cog-wheel carried by the wheel journaled on said lower rear shaft in said frame, drive means pivotally mounted on said lower forward transverse shaft mounted in said frame, said drive means having an L-shaped end, drive chains trained around the sprocket wheels carried by said upper rear transverse shaft and the cog-wheels carried by said lower rear transverse shaft, a cog carried by said sprocket wheels engageable with said ratchet wheels, one end of said drive chain secured to said drive means pivotally mounted on said lower forward transverse shaft, springs in said frame and having one end secured to said drive means pivotally mounted on said lower forward transverse shaft, the opposite ends of said springs secured to said sprocket chains trained around said sprocket wheels and said cog wheels, a transverse shaft carried by said head, a rack-bar in said head, a pinion gear mounted on said transverse shaft in said head and engageable with said rack-bar, a brake guard mounted in said forked portion, a cable connecting said rack-bar and said brake guard, and a pair of handles connected to said transverse shaft in said head portion, said handles operating said pinion gear, rack-bar and brake-guard.

RAYMOND E. JAMES. EDGAR L. PIERCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

